LBJ Tapes, Part V

The year was 1964, the most powerful man in American politics was locked in a stalemate of sorts with a prominent member of arguably the most powerful political family in America. Since the assassination of John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson had worked to keep good relations with the Kennedy family. On July 4th, 1964, Johnson, relaxing at the LBJ Ranch spoke to Jackie Kennedy at the Kennedy's compound.

But Robert Kennedy was a major political problem for Johnson in the summer of
1964. The attorney general wanted to be the vice presidential nominee, but Johnson knew it would lose him Southern support and he did not trust Kennedy. In a July 23 call to Texas Gov. John Connally, the president suggested
Robert Kennedy was stirring up trouble among blacks in Mississippi who were
threatening to disrupt the Democratic Convention.